Spinning-top



(No Model.)

0. DIEM. SPINNING TOP.

,581. Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

WITNESSES:

Z IQM66&J,

UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFICEQ CHRISTIAN DIEM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPINNING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,581, dated August 14, 1894:.

Application filed May 15, 1893- SerialNo. 474;,860. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN DIEM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spinning-Tops, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

My invention consists of a spinning top having novel means of operating the same, as will be hereinafter set forth. 7

The figure represents a vertical section of a top embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing: A designates. a sleeve in which is a traveling spindle B, which latter is threaded and engages with threads in said sleeve. Mounted on ears 0 on the lower end of said sleeve are dogs D, which are adapted to engage with the neckE of the plug F of the top G, said dogs having their noses pressed inwardly by springs H, which are seated on the sleeve and bear against the upper ends of said dogs. Journaled on the sleeve is a collar J which forms a guard and handle, and has an opening through which the string K passes, said string being adapted to be wound on the sleeve.

Mounted on the collar J is an elbow lever or key L, which is adapted to enter the longitudinal groove M which serves as a seat for said key.

The inner faces of the dogs D are formed with inclined shoulders N, which are adapted to be engaged by the point of the screw spindle B for separating said dogs, and disengaging them from the neck E.

The lower end of the sleeve A enters the top G and bears against the head P, which is,

loosely fitted on the plug F, and pressed upwardly or outwardly by the spring Q, which bears against said head and rests against the inner wall of the top, the latter being hollow, as is evident, and having within it the reeds R, and formed-with openings S and T, whereby when the top is spun, a musical sound will be produced.

The operation is as follows: The spindle B being in contact with the shoulders N, holds the dogs D separated, when the lower end of the sleeve A is fitted over the plug F, and

forced against the head P until the noses of the dogs register with the neck E. The key L is thrown back and the spindle screwed out that if the spindle has been previously screwed out, the dogs may be separated by the action of the fingers on the upper ends of said dogs. Then the head is forced in and the dogs are let go, so as to engage with the neck E. The string is now wound on the sleeve A by rotating the latter, and the key restored to the groove or seat M. The string is then forcibly pulled so as to unwind, when the spindle receives downward motion, owing to the sleeve screwing around the same, it being noticed that the key L prevents rotation of said spindle, it being evident that as the spindle rotates, power is communicated by the same to the top. When the point of the spindle reaches the shoulders N, the dogs are thrown out, and the spring Q quickly forces the top in spinning condition from the sleeve, and owing to the reeds R emitting a musical sound. The key is again thrown back and the spindle screwed out and the sleeve pressed into the top, the dogs being engaged with the neck of the plug, after which the string is wound up, the key L engaged with the spindle, when the operation of spinning and releasing of the top is repeated.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A top with a plug having a neck thereon, a sleeve with dogs thereon which engage said plug, means substantially as described for rotating said sleeve, a traveling spindle fitted to said sleeve and engaging said dogs, and a key adapted to be seated in said spindle, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. Asleeve with a traveling spindle therein, and a dog on said sleeve adapted to engage with the plug of a top and be engaged by said spindle, substantially as described.

3. A top with a plug having a neck therein, a sleeve fitting on said plug, dogs engaging in said neck, a collar mounted on said sleeve, a spindle traveling in said sleeve, and a locking lever or key on said collar engaging in a recess in'vsaid spindle, said parts being combined substantially as described.

4. A top with a plug having aneck therein, a spring bearing against a head loosely fitted on said plug, a sleeve fitting on said plug and bearing against said head, pivoted dogs engaging in said neck on said plug, and a spindle traveling in said sleeve and engaging said dogs, said parts being combined substantially as described.

5. A top with a plug having a neck therein,"

a spring bearing against a head loosely fitted on said plug, a sleeve bearing against said head, spring-controlled dogs on said sleeve engaging said neck,- a collar on said sleeve having an opening therein, a spindle in said sleeve. engaging said dogs, and a locking le- 20 CHRISTIAN DIEM.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. JENNINGS. 

